Statistics and research release
Funds raised for good causes Q2 2018 to 2019
Income from game sales by quarter and versus last year.
Summary
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Since its launch in November 1994, the National Lottery has raised over £35 billion for good causes that include sports (including Olympic athletes and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games), arts and heritage, as well as health and education and the environment.
Funds are raised from the sale of National Lottery games and supplemented by unclaimed prizes and interest on balances of funds held. The funds for the original good causes are held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF).
The Commission ensures that payments from the Lottery operator to the good causes are accurate and on time.
Key facts
Total funds raised for good causes between Quarter 2 2017 to 2018 and Quarter 2 2018 to 20191
The following chart shows the most recent quarter and the preceding four quarters for comparative purposes. For consistency, each week’s ending date must fall within the reporting quarter, therefore the number of weeks within the quarters may vary.
The total raised for the NLDF in Quarter 2 (July to September) was £425.8m. This was £63.7m (17.6%) above the April to June quarter and £0.9m (0.2%) above Quarter 2 in 2017 to 2018:
| 2017 to 2018 Quarter 2 |
2017 to 2018 Quarter 3 |
2017 to 2018 Quarter 4 |
2018 to 2019 Quarter 1 |
2018 to 2019 Quarter 2 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount raised for good causes | £424.9 million | £472.0 million | £427.0 million | £362.1 million | £425.8 million |
Details
The total for the second quarter of the current financial year was above that recorded in the first quarter and above the amount recorded in Quarter 2 last year.
Performance in Quarter 2 versus the first quarter of 2018 to 2019 reflects a longer trading period (14 whole weeks versus only 12 covered in Quarter 1). There were higher average contributions from both of the main draw games due to both Lotto and EuroMillions jackpots reaching higher peak roll levels than in Quarter 1. There was also a further improvement in average sales and returns from instant win games (scratchcards and IIWGs).
Performance against Quarter 2 in 2017 to 2018 was largely a result of additional income generated by the new Thunderball and EuroMillions HotPicks games launched at the end of 2017 to 2018. Better year-on-year returns from EuroMillions and instant win games partially offset lower average Lotto return.
Notes
1 These amounts relate to the total value of proceeds from game sales raised for the NLDF in approximate calendar quarters. Quarter 2 of 2018 to 2019 comprises funds raised between 24 June and 29 September 2018. They include all other income and adjustments from game sales, including unclaimed prizes.